To counter the aggressive defense being used by Andrei Kirilenko and the Utah Jazz, Yao Ming and the Rockets decided to be more assertive around the basket in Game 2. The result -- more fouls being called on Utah and more free-throw opportunites (34-of-38) for the Rockets.

The Rockets are leading their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz 2-0 but are making only 37.5 percent of their shots. Forward Chuck Hayes, however, took five shots and made them all in Game 2 on Monday.

The evidence, Yao said, was clear. So was the solution: blame the coach.

"I may ask his shooting coach to trade for Tom Thibodeau," Yao said of Rockets assistant Steve Clifford and Thibodeau, the assistant head coach who works with Yao. "He shot 5-for-5. I may try that one."

The problem with this plan is that the Rockets might not be eager for Yao to emulate the shooting form of Hayes. But they do believe some adjustments are in order.

The Rockets have won two games despite their lackluster shooting but know they must do better offensively to keep winning.

The Jazz have pressured the Rockets ragged. Open shots have missed. Tough shots have been rushed. But after two days to consider the two games, the Rockets believe they understand the problems and solutions.

"It's them dictating our offense, what they want us to do," guard Tracy McGrady said. "Normally, during the regular season, you're pretty much getting what you want. You're catching the ball where you want to catch it. You run your offense smoothly.

"This team, since it's the playoffs and since they're a high-energy team, they're making us catch the ball where we don't want to catch the ball, making us run pick-and-rolls in an area where we don't normally run pick-and-roll. I think that has something to do with our shooting.

"There's always a counter to everything. We worked on some of that as far as where we catch the ball, how we're going to go about catching the ball and, if they put pressure on us, what we're going to do when that happens. We have our ways of overcoming when they put pressure on us."

Besides employing greater discipline and determination to run the offense despite Utah's defensive pressure, the Rockets might have found a solution even before getting to the practice court Wednesday.

Against the aggressive Jazz defense Monday, the Rockets' increased assertiveness led to more fouls and free throws and a 51-point second half on 48.6 percent shooting.

"I think we learned a lesson in the second half," forward Shane Battier said. "If we're aggressive with the basketball, going to the basket, we'll shoot some free throws. We have to use that aggressiveness to our advantage, rip through when they're really pressuring us and go to the rack."

While that would be a start, coach Jeff Van Gundy said some improved shot selection would help, too.

"I thought four or five (3-point attempts) were not quality shots," Van Gundy said. "They're closing on us as hard as anybody has closed to the 3-point line. You have to give them a lot of credit. Some others are makable and need to be made. The quality hasn't been what it's been in the regular season.

"Shooting contested 3-point jump shots is not a formula for winning. If they're going to close hard on you, you've got to be more than a one-trick pony. You have to have a counter."

The Rockets' 42.9 percent shooting ranked 27th in the NBA this season, but that included 35.1 percent from the 3-point arc, which was fifth-best. No other team generated as much of its offense from 3-point shooting as the Rockets.

But in the first two games of the Jazz series, the Rockets have made only 13 of 55 3-pointers (25.5 percent).

"I've had so many great looks," said Battier, who has made four of 12 treys. "Ask my wife. I stay up late at night pondering the looks that I've gotten. I probably have gotten better looks than I had in the regular season, but I haven't made many of them."

Luther Head, the Rockets' top 3-point shooter this season, is 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. Rafer Alston is 4-of-16.

The Rockets believe that while the Jazz might make things more difficult, the ways around and through the Utah defense have not changed.

"They're very aggressive and the most physical team in the league," Van Gundy said. "Against teams that pressure the ball, no matter what you're running, (you have to) get enough separation from the defenders so you have operating room.

"I know what we have to do to try to play better. That's what we're trying to focus on — how we can play better. We would like to do what we do a little bit better for a little bit longer."

Do that, and the offense that was barely able to produce two victories just might become good enough to add two more.